Cooler temps are harbingers of fall theatrical productions, and community troupes are again busy preparing for their seasonal offerings.

Tabard Theatre Company: "Antigone in the Oval Office," Oct. 10-Nov. 1.

A provocative spin on a classic tale resonates deeply as Americans count down to election 2008. In this contemporary Antigone, characters from the original Greek text slip into their modern counterparts in America's political landscape. Thrust into the Oval Office after the sudden and tragic death of President Oedipus, Vice President Creon faces national crises that become personal very quickly as his goddaughter Antigone challenges his wartime martial law. The palace in Thebes becomes the Oval Office and the traditional Greek chorus is replaced by the President's Cabinet, the White House Press Corps, and White House staff. For information, call 679-2330. The Theatre on San Pedro Square is located at 29 N. San Pedro St., Suite 200, San Jose.

Santa Clara Players: "Table Manners": Oct. 3-25.

In this play, Annie has arranged to spend an illicit weekend with her sister Ruth's husband Norman, and for this reason, suitably disguised, has asked her elder brother Reg and his wife Sarah to look after their widowed mother and the house. As it happens, the seduction, thought or planned, by each of the six characters never takes place. The theater is located at 1505 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara. For information and reservations, call 248-7993.

Northside Theatre

Company: "Over the River and Through the Woods," Oct. 9-Nov. 2.

Nick is a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey whose parents retired and moved to Florida. He sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. This is routine until he has to tell them that he's been offered a dream job. The job would take him away from his beloved, but annoying, grandparents. The news doesn't sit so well. Thus begins a series of schemes to keep Nick around. Well, Frank, Aida, Nunzio and Emma do their level best, and that includes bringing to dinner the lovely-and single-Caitlin O'Hare as bait. A hilarious family comedy that is even funnier than his long-running musical revue "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." The theater is located at 848 E. William St., San Jose. Call 288-7820 for box office and reservation information.

Pear Avenue Theatre: "Nickel and Dimed," Oct. 24-Nov. 9.

Based on Barbara Ehrenreich's bestseller, this provocative play explores the flip side of American "prosperity." A journalist goes undercover to scrub toilets, wait tables, and investigate how large numbers of women keep body and soul together on small change. An all too-true story. The Pear Theater is located at 1220 Pear Ave., Mountain View. Call (650) 254-1148 for additional information.

American Musical Theatre of San Jose, "Flower Drum Song," Oct. 28-Nov. 9.

Tony Award-winner David Henry Hwang's new adaptation of this Rodgers and Hammerstein jewel centers on Mei-Li who arrives in 1960 San Francisco Chinatown after fleeing communist China. The na ve young refugee is befriended by Wang, who is struggling to keep the Chinese theatrical tradition alive despite his son's determination to turn the theater into a rowdy nightclub. A unique blending of American razz-ma-tazz and stylized Chinese traditions, this beautiful theatrical tapestry is highlighted by its wonderful score, that is both lushly romantic and showbiz-brassy and includes "I Enjoy Being a Girl," "A Hundred Million Miracles," "Sunday and Chop Suey." The theater is located at 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose. For information and reservations, call 1 (888) 455-7469.

Renegade Theatre Experiment, "Mr. Marmalade," Nov. 7-22.

Lucy is a 4-year-old girl with a very active imagination. Unfortunately, her imaginary friend Mr. Marmalade doesn't have much time for her. Not to mention he beats up his personal assistant, has a cocaine addiction and a penchant for pornography. Larry, her only real friend, is the youngest suicide attempt in the history of New Jersey. Mr. Marmalade is a savage black comedy about what it takes to grow up in these difficult times. The theater is located at 1635 Park Ave., San Jose. Call 351-4440 for more information.

Palo Alto Players, "Run for Your Wife," Nov. 8-Nov. 23.

This comedic classic of big laughs and bigamy is a joyride through London with a cabbie who masterfully juggles his two unsuspecting wives until his double life begins to collide head-on. Thanks to an irregular work schedule and a complicated coding system, John Smith has successfully kept his marriages to Barbara and Mary separate and secret from each other-until the fateful day John receives a blow to the head and a well-intentioned policeman takes the wrong John home to the wrong wife at the wrong time. The Lucie Stern Theater is located at 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 329-0891 for information and reservations.

Smith Center, Ohlone College "Richard Glazier Salutes the American Popular Song," Oct. 18.

A musical tour of the 20th century, starting when ragtime was king and continuing through the decades that followed. Award winning pianist and master storyteller Richard Glazier offers a thrilling performance enhanced by fascinating inside stories and rare film and audio clips. Call (510) 659-6031 for information. The Smith Center theater is located at 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont.